Land Records
Some basic information
Land records are the best kept records in the United States, but not all land transactions were recorded. Further, a land transaction may get recorded far after the date of the actual transaction, sometimes just before the land is about to be again sold. Land transactions are often recorded when an estate is probated.
State Land States: The original 13 states; also Kentucky, Maine, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia. Described by the system of "Metes and bound" and New England town lots. Land was issued upon an application, a warrant issued for the survey, the survey completed and a patent issued to the new owner.
Public Land (or public domain) States: land was transferred to the federal government by all other states; described by meridian, section, township and range. First lands were sold by the federal government through a system of land offices. These first purchases of the land are kept separately. Another way land was transferred is through bounty lands for military service. For a quick overview, read The Public Land Survey System
See the Bureau of Land Management's site, which has a look-up feature that will allow you to find these sales to a first owner. Records of these sales are also kept at the county level. (Tips for using the BLM-GLO web site)
Important dates
1606-1732 land grants (or charters) were madeby the British Crown to the colonies. 1607 to the Revolution, the colonies transferred the land to individuals.
Land Ordinance of 1785 started the transfer of land from the federal govenment to individuals.
1803 Louisiana Purchase (added over 500 million acres to public-domain lands)
War of 1812 bounty lands
1841
1850 Donation Land Claim ActBlacke. Staking out the Northwest: Donation Land Claims 2001 (audiotape for sale)
Homestead Act of 1862The Records
Records are kept at the county level EXCEPT: Louisiana keeps them at the parish or county level; Rhode Island and Vermont at the town level.
Indexing is often not in a straightforward alphabet. You must learn to use courthouse indexes.
Some terminology :
Land Grants: the transfer of title from a government to individuals.Deed: the transfer of the land between individuals. First transfers,i.e. from the government to an individual are usually kept separately from the deed transfers.
Grantor/Grantee seller/buyer. Indexes are usually in two parts, grantor to grantee and grantee from grantor.
Quit Claim Deed: a deed
Metes & Bounds --distances measured in chains, links, rods and poles. Deeds often name adjoining neighbors.
Software:
Deed Mapper (Direct Line Software)
Further Reading
One book that I often recommend is Val Greenwood's Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy, Genealogical Publishing Co. and it is covers land records especially well. He devotes 3 chapters to the subject: Ch. 18 Government Land: Colonial and American; ch. 19 Local Land Records; and ch. 20. Abstracting Wills and Deeds.
For more a more thorough guide to the topic, use Hone. Land and Property Research in the United States. (find in a library)
You can also take a 4-lesson (free) online instructional guide to Land and Property Research in the U.S. based on this book.
Directline software provides several pages of Land Records Reference.
Online articles include
Analyzing Deeds for Useful Clues
Davenport. Taking the Mystery Out of Land Records.
Gormley. Homesteaders Left Marks on Land and Paper
Neill. Milling Around For Leads
Neill. Where Did the Farm Go?
MORE LINKS...Cyndi's List topic: Land Records, Deeds, Homesteads, Etc.
This page last updated February 5, 2008
